Halo 5 Balance Update: Radar, Sniper, and More

It has been a long sixteen months for competitive Halo fans, but on March 9th, Halo 5: Guardians will be receiving a hefty maintenance update that will address fan feedback regarding numerous elements of the game, including radar, weapons, and more. Let’s dive right in!

Radar

One of the hottest topics of debate in the competitive Halo community is the presence of radar in Halo 5: Guardians. Luckily, 343 has addressed this feedback in the upcoming Halo 5 balance update by modifying radar to be more optimal for competitive play.

In the new update, radar will only track players who fire weapons (non-silenced) or use Spartan Abilities (Sprint, Thrust, Stabilize, Clamber, Ground Pound, Spartan Charge). These changes intend to promote more stealthy gameplay options as well as fewer defensive moments.

The upcoming changes to the motion sensor in Halo 5: Guardians will go live in an isolated playlist, “Proving Grounds”, and will be available for testing for a minimum of one month. Afterwards, 343 will assess data and feedback and move forward with a permanent change.

Sandbox

Only a few weapons will be receiving changes in this update, but they will certainly please many players and fans.

Sniper Rifle: Aim assist on unscoped shots has been reduced, which will demand more skill to hit no-scopes and Snapshots

Plasma Caster: Reduced damage fall-off range, which will require players to be more precise with their shots due to a less effective blast radius.

To the delight of many fans, these changes to Halo 5 will certainly bring about a more competitive environment within all settings of the game’s multiplayer. Discuss the new changes on our forums!